Listen up Accounting Firms---

A total of 143 Presidents and Chief Executives of 115 IFAC member bodies and associates in 91 countries, as well as six regional accountancy bodies, participated in this IFAC survey, conducted between October and November 2007.
Worldwide leaders of professional accountancy organizations believe that a strong accountancy profession plays a key role in economic development globally and nationally and that an important focus in 2008 will be maintaining the profession’s good reputation, according to survey results. The IFAC survey also shows that in the coming year global accountancy leaders will focus on attracting new accounting talent to their ranks, particularly in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, and North America, where the most pressing staff shortages exist.

“Maintaining a strong reputation is critical to attracting and retaining talented accountancy professionals,” emphasizes IFAC President Fermín del Valle. “In particular, investor confidence in the profession is vital to the profession’s ability to contribute to the optimal functioning of capital markets and, consequently, to economic development.”

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